~ The Upper Valley's News Leader

May 13, 2015

Newport Keeps Fratzel and AirportIt was a low voter turnout for Newport with only 489 residents casting ballots for their annual SB Town Meeting. Voters said yes to another three-year term for Selectboard member Todd Fratzel.
No one filed for the trustee of the trust funds but Paul Brown won handily with 11 write in votes, followed by four write in votes for Bert Spaulding Sr. Charlene Urban won an uncontested seat for Library Trustee.
The only article to fail was Article 11 “To see if the Town will vote to explore the option to sell, lease or retain ownership of those premises known as the Newport Airport…”
Article 6 authorizing the Town to sell the Lil’ Red Baron Restaurant passed 371-112.

Kidder Retains Seat in New London
New London had a 27 percent voter turnout with 1003 ballots casts. Janet Kidder retained her Selectboard seat for another three years edging out John Wilson 561-436. The only other contested race was for three 3-year term for library trustees, winning trustee seats were Wendy Dumis 661, Gordon Terwilliger 514, and Matthew J. Hubbard with 511 votes. Losing his bid for library trustee was W. Lansing Reed with 422. Zoning amendment 1, which changes the definition of a family passed 772-167 and zoning amendment 2 that would have changed the signage ordinance was voted down 519-424. New London voters meet tonight for the second part of their town meeting at 7:00 pm at Kearsarge Learning Campus Gymnasium on Cougar Court.

Storm Knocks Down Trees and Power Lines
Area Fire and Police Departments were busy after a fast moving rain storm with heavy gusts went through the area late Tuesday afternoon.
A tree fell on a power line on River Road in Claremont, causing power outages and had Claremont fire and police departments on the scene. A large tree fell on Kearsarge road in Wilmot causing that road to be closed for several hours.
On Cady Hill and Butterfield Road in Weathersfield VT several trees and power lines went down along with a transformer. One of the power lines landed on a vehicle and area residents lost power for a short time.

Delays Expected on Rt. 4 Bridge in Lebanon
Motorists can expect periodic traffic delays if traveling over the US RT. 4 bridge over the Mascoma River in Lebanon. The delays are due to moving the structural steel beams into place and will last about 10-15 mins between 5:30 -6:30 am daily while they are being placed. A similar delay can be expected in the later morning.
Starting on May 18, sections of the NH Rail trail underneath the bridge will be closed for about two weeks. A rail trail detour will be in place with signs directing trail users around the construction work. The trail will not be closed on weekends and non-work hours.